Finding U.S.-made gloves, rainwear and everything else

Exclusive: Roger Simmermaker explains how consumer dollars make a difference

Roger Simmermaker is the author of "How Americans Can Buy American: The Power of Consumer Patriotism." He also writes "Buy American Mention of the Week" articles for his website, and is a member of the Machinists Union and National Writers Union. Roger has been a frequent guest on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC and has been quoted in the USA Today, Wall Street Journal and US News & World Report, among many other publications.

More and more Americans are searching for “made in USA” goods these days, so it’s good to know there are websites out there to help us find those American-made – and union-made – products that many patriotic consumers are seeking.

One of the best places to go for those American-made and union-made products is www.UnionHouse.com. Not every item available at UnionHouse.com is union made, but everything is definitely American made.

One thing you’ll notice right off the bat when you visit their online store is that they carry U.S-made products in categories that are especially difficult to find.

For example, when was the last time you saw a pair of work gloves or gardening gloves in the lawn and garden section of your local hardware or home improvement store that were made in this country? And have you ever seen rainwear anywhere that was made in the United States?

You’ll also find flame resistant clothing for welders and other American workers who work in special trades that require it.

Union-made apparel includes clothing made by members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) and United Steel Workers (USW) like golf shirts, long-sleeve shirts, hoodies, wool jackets, and leather jackets. Yes, the UAW makes more than automobiles and the USW makes more than steel.

And what American-made only website would be complete without a section of patriotic items? In addition to traditional American-made American flags (shouldn’t they all be made in USA anyway?), Union House carries union-made U.S. flag lapel pins, as well as King Louie golf shirts with collars colored with the traditional American red, white, and blue.

UnionHouse.com is always adding new products as they’re discovered or become available. They will soon be carrying American-made, union-made dress shirts and thermal long-sleeve shirts.

Union House is a proudly union-organized shop that pays good union wages and benefits, and they also pay 100 percent of a union health care plan for all of their fulltime employees.

It doesn’t necessarily matter to Minnesota-based Union House that their state made it illegal in 2007 to sell any American flag in their state that is not American made.

That’s because Union House has been supplying American-made products for American consumers for nearly 20 years. They know that the best job stimulus program is one that supports “made in USA” products, which is all they sell and all they have ever sold.

Union House has been a brick-and-mortar store that has carried only U.S.-made products since 1992, and their e-commerce site has been online since 1998. They know that if every American consumer shifted just a few hundred of their consumer dollars from imported products to domestic ones, it might very well create a million jobs or more for the U.S. economy.

So by supporting companies like Union House that supply American-made products, you’ll also be supporting American workers that receive good wages and benefits for stronger American working families.

Whether it’s buying an American-made car or a pair of American-made socks, it all adds up as far as Union House is concerned. They put a special value on their relationship with their customers, because they know their customers have avoided the temptation to buy cheap Chinese apparel at Wal-Mart and have taken the increasingly popular step of seeking out American-made products instead. It’s a small amount to invest if you’re interest is in supporting the Unites States.

So I would encourage you to visit www.UnionHouse.com if you want to support the American economy with your American dollars. Or, if you are in the Wyoming, Minnesota area (just north of Minneapolis) stop by and show your support for other Americans who go the extra mile in offering only American-made products.